---
The chains were still some distance from Hatake Kuroshi; they couldn't be said to have completely bound him.
At least, escaping or changing his posture was no problem at all.
But no matter how Obito tightened the chains, there seemed to be a solid, transparent barrier around Hatake Kuroshi.
It was impossible to truly get close to him!
Usually, only others were left guessing Obito's abilities; how could a situation like this possibly occur?
"Are you trying to get all your words out before you die?"
Obito felt a surge of anger; he was always the one treating others with such detached confidence.
No one had doubted his identity as Madara Uchiha.
But this masked man before him consistently projected an attitude of control, as if he had already seen through his identity.
Annoying, so annoying!
Obito knew the limits of his ability; however invincible he seemed now, after five minutes, he would lose his advantage.
Especially since he hadn't seen this person use any ninjutsu yet. Once Kamui started its cooldown, Obito couldn't guarantee he could actually handle this guy.
He needed to end this quickly!
Obito instantly phased next to Hatake Kuroshi, grabbed his arm, and yanked him downwards forcefully.
The chains couldn't touch him, but physical contact could?!
Still, there were countless strange ninjutsu; if this was just its characteristic, it wasn't that strange.
The Sharingan hidden behind the mask's eyehole suddenly glared towards the eyes hidden behind the other mask.
No matter what strange ninjutsu it was, it couldn't escape the Sharingan's Genjutsu.
However, behind the mask, what awaited was pitch blackness.
"For example, about Rin Nohara."
Hatake Kuroshi seemed completely unsurprised, his words still carrying a flippant, teasing tone.
As if he were joking with him.
Rin's name exploded in Obito's ears.
Rin!?
Obito instinctively jolted. For so long, no one had ever mentioned that name in front of him.
Hatake Kuroshi formed a claw with one hand, and a stream of pale blue energy flowed directly from his palm.
The wrist Obito was holding was suddenly ripped away by an immense suction force.
In the instant Obito hesitated, that almost bizarre suction force came from the side.
With a flicker of an afterimage, Hatake Kuroshi vanished right before his eyes.
Obito's hand was still half-clenched, as if still gripping his arm.
After Hatake Kuroshi instantly disappeared, massive trees snapped in half nearby hurtled towards Obito from all directions, surrounding him.
The giant logs passed straight through Obito's body as he nimbly dodged amongst the crowding timber.
This kind of attack was almost negligible to him.
Everyone thought he was Madara Uchiha, although of course, there were exceptions.
But no one had ever guessed his identity so accurately.
Who on earth was this guy!?
Obito's questions grew larger, but no matter how he looked at the man's movements, physique, or even the ninjutsu used, it was a type he had never seen before.
He wasn't someone raised in Konoha, and he knew quite a bit about ninjutsu from other villages.
But he had never encountered a situation like this.
Since it wasn't someone he knew, how could he know about Rin!?
This person was a complete enigma—strange techniques, inexplicable intelligence gathering.
Strange and dangerous; it was better not to prolong this conversation with him.
Dust and debris splashed up where the giant logs impacted the ground. If hit, one would undoubtedly be embedded into the earth.
Obito stood atop one of the logs slanted against the ground, avoiding the settling dust.
He didn't want to continue arguing with Hatake Kuroshi before figuring this person out completely.
He couldn't reveal his trump cards too early.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Showing up now to stop me, what is your objective?"
Hatake Kuroshi brushed a leaf off his head and lightly leaped onto a nearby broken stump. Just now, because Obito had grabbed his wrist... it was the first time he'd used that ability to eliminate the distance between himself and another object. If Obito had gripped his arm with any real force, he'd probably be playing the one-armed swordsman right now.
"Stopping you from going to the Uchiha district at this time... isn't the purpose obvious?"
"Don't interfere with Itachi's business."
"Apart from that, your agreement proceeds as planned."
......................................
Obito's figure quickly vanished into the dim forest. A youth with a band-aid on his face vaguely revealed a crimson Sharingan eye within the trees.
Two figures vanished from the spot together, leaves rustling down.
"Why do I have to stay late with you?"
Naruto pressed his face against the desk, his expression full of dissatisfaction, complaining in a drawn-out tone.
Everyone had left the classroom; only the pale electric light above their heads remained lit.
Outside, the sky had completely darkened. The blackboard was still filled with various formulas and problems.
"I don't want to be stuck here with you either," Sasuke retorted bluntly. There were still a few problems left in his notebook, the answers blank.
The Ninja Academy usually didn't demand too much regarding their coursework; after all, all lessons were meant to help them learn ninjutsu better.
Besides leaving right after school, they usually stayed outside to practice shuriken for a while.
Sasuke usually went home to practice with his family in the Uchiha training grounds.
So being deliberately kept here today with homework felt somewhat strange.
Sasuke felt vaguely uneasy, looking worriedly out the window.
He didn't know why, but he had a feeling something would happen tonight.
However, there was also the strangest person – the one staying late with him right now.
"Don't you usually dash off as soon as afternoon hits? Why are you still here today?"
Naruto wasn't the type to stay obediently in the classroom. Relying on the fact that few could control him, he was a master of being late, leaving early, and skipping class.
Being kept after class until now and actually sitting here was quite absurd.
"Kuroshi-nii said he wasn't coming to class today, so I didn't have anything else to do."
"If he's not around, wherever I go is... ah."
Before finishing, Naruto realized he might have said something wrong and quickly covered his mouth.
"Hah?!"
"You know that guy?!"
Sasuke usually deliberately imitated Itachi at school, acting like a precocious, serious little adult.
Upon hearing Hatake Kuroshi's name, he slammed the desk and shot up, nearly bumping into Naruto.
He remembered that white-haired older guy who always teased him.
Even when he complained to Itachi, Itachi would always speak up for Hatake Kuroshi, being incredibly biased.
Naruto was startled by his reaction, flinching back unprepared.
"What 'that guy'?! Be more polite! Kuroshi-nii is a great person."
"What's so great about him? His personality is terrible."
"He's supposed to be an adult, but he eats sweets every day. It's too weird!"
Sasuke couldn't bring himself to say he was always being teased relentlessly by Hatake Kuroshi, so he could only argue from a different angle.
"Itachi is an adult too, and he likes sweets!"
"My brother is my brother! That guy can't even compare to nii-san!"
After just a few exchanges, the two kids devolved into a debate about whether Itachi or Hatake Kuroshi was more like an adult.
Sasuke's initial desire to go home completely vanished. Rolling up his sleeves, he vowed to settle the score with Naruto.
This was a battle for Itachi's honor.
The person who had asked the school teacher to keep Sasuke late was Itachi himself.
Even if he inevitably stained his hands with blood, he didn't want Sasuke to witness his own family dying before his eyes.
Sasuke only needed to see it upon returning, to know, and then to grow up hating him.
That was enough.
Itachi stood outside the Uchiha clan compound and took a deep breath, his katana in hand.
The cold glint of moonlight shone on the blade, flashing a sharp white across his face.
Hiruzen stood inside the Hokage Tower. He hadn't figured out a way to handle the Uchiha coup; he just silently gazed out the window.
ANBU members had already been dispatched to monitor the Uchiha compound, but there were no orders to engage directly.
They were just eyes spread everywhere, allowing Hiruzen to see everything clearly.
But that was all.
He had heard rumors about Danzo arranging for Itachi to annihilate the clan, but he hadn't stopped Danzo.
No matter how he thought about it, the Uchiha coup seemed inevitable.
Rather than letting things continue to escalate, it was better to cut the Gordian knot, purge this clan, and eliminate future troubles.
After tonight, Itachi would surely become a missing-nin. For the peace of Konoha, to prevent further conflict... that child's sacrifice was unavoidable.
Hiruzen took a puff from his pipe, exhaled smoke, and shook his head.
Danzo was unusually quiet tonight; perhaps he was secretly waiting for the Uchiha coup, plotting something.
The Medical Team members had just left. The bandage covering Danzo's eye was now wrapped completely over it.
Danzo touched the bandage covering his eyes with one hand.
Overwhelming hatred and gloom surged in the single eye left exposed.
He never expected that intruder to have actually taken both his eyes!
---
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